Priestess of Ishana

Priestess of Ishana evokes everything I love about historically-inspired fantasy with a strong and savvy heroine, a compassionate hero, and a world both blessed and cursed by the oversight of gods. Mystery, romance, action: this has it all.
-Beth Cato, author of The Clockwork Dagger and Breath of Earth

A curse, a conspiracy, and a clash of kingdoms…

In the Hitolian empire, the discovery of a man burnt to death by a sorcerer’s curse sends the high priest to investigate before danger spreads across the city. His daughter, the priestess Tesha, gladly stays away from this foul magic — although she’s studied some forbidden rites of her own.

When vassal king Hattu arrives at the temple, Tesha receives him in place of her father. Over a game of Sphinx and Griffin, she finds both his questions and touch stimulating, and his strategy challenging to outsmart.

But on the high priest’s return, he arrests Hattu, accusing him of being the murderous sorcerer. The evidence is persuasive—or so Tesha tells herself. Struggling to cling to family loyalty and survive the wrath of new enemies, she must pursue the truth — however deadly.

In this battle Tesha has only her magic, her ingenuity and the slow-growing conviction of her heart…a combination that can save her, or spell her destruction.

First in a four-part epic fantasy series, Priestess of Ishana draws on the true-life of a remarkable Bronze Age Hittite queen who ruled over one of history’s most powerful empires.